Nutcracker.



I'. B. MAY. 'NUTORAGKER. APPLICATION FILED 113 237, 1914.

1. 1 0892a Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

III/VENTO/i JQIM 6.7114

FRANK B. 'MAY, OF WHARTON, TEXAS.

NUTCRAGKER.

incense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11., llllild.

Application filed February 27, 191 Serial No. 821,387.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. MAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wharton, in the county of Wharton and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Nutcrackers, of whichthe following a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a nut cracker,and has more particular relation to such devices as are adapted to crushthe shells of pecans and other similar hard-shelled nuts.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed, which ject.

may be readily attached to a table or other stationary object, andprovided with two socket members, between which the nut may be placed,and coinprehends also a means for manually moving said members togetherso as to crush the nut placed therebetween.

A further feature ot: the device resides in the provision of a resilientmember, normally tending to hold said socket members apart, so that thenut may be readily placed in position to be cracked.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is pletedevice, thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numeralsof reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, a U-shapedframework has been provided, consisting of the transverse bar 1, and theupstanding arms 2 and 3, secured to the respective ends thereof. Alinedwith the arm 2 and integral with the bar 1 is a downwardly extendingbracket 4, whose free end is turned and runs parallel with the bar 1,and between which and said bar the edge of a table, or other stationaryobject may be inserted and to which the device may be secured by meansof the thumb screw 5. This screw is threaded through a vertically ex.-tending hole in the free end of the bracket 4 and its inner end engagesa ainst the object to which the deviceis to e secured, in the well knownmanner, and holds the device firmly attached tosaid stationary ob- Theupper endof the arm 2 has a a side elevation of the comand Fig. 2 1s aplan view socket member 6 which is integral with said arm and opposingwhich is the movable socket member 7. The facing ends of these socketmembers are hollowed out so as to conform to the shape of the particularkind of nut to be cracked. The upper end of the arm 3 is bent over, sothat its free end extends downwardly and parallel to the body of thearm, forming a groove between said free end and body in-which the rackmemher 8 slides. The inner end or" this rack ,member is integral withand supports the This rack member has socket member 7. an oblong,lengthwise extending slot 9 and a pin 10 extends through said slot andits respective ends are secured to the overturned end and the body,respectively, of the arm 3. Integral with and depending from the innerend of this rack member is an arm 11, whose lower end has a bearingmember 12, which is slidable upon the rod 13, whose respective ends arefixed to the respective arms 2 and 3. Surrounding the rod 13 andinterposed between the arm 2 and the bearing member 12 is a strong coilspring 1'1 which operates against said bearhug member and tends tonormally hold said socket members apart. The underside of the rackmember 8 is provided with rack teeth, intermcshing with which is thespur gear wheel 15, which bolt 16, extending transversely through thearm 3. This spur gear wheel is manually operated by means of the handle17, which is fixed to the outer side thereof.

In operation, the device is first secured to a-fixed support and the nutto be cracked is held so that one end will rest in the socket oi themember 6. An upward pull is then exerted on the handle 17, whichoperates through the gear wheel 15 and the rack member 8 to drive thesocket member 7 toward the member 6. The exposed end of the nut willseat in the socket of the member 7 and a slight additional pull on thehandle 17 will operate to crush the shell of the nut. The handle is thenreleased and the spring 14 will force the socket member 7 back to itsformer position. The upper side of the bar 1 carries an upwardly pro:jecting stop 18 which limits the backward movement of the member 7.

What ll claim is 1. A device of the character described including aframework having two opposing upstanding arms, a socket member carrier?has a bearing on the by the free end of one of said arms and integraltherewith, the free end of the other of said arms being bent over andforming a bearing member,

a rack member having a lengthwise slot therein and having slidabletending through said slot, a socket member integral with the inner endof said rack member and opposing said first mentioned socket member,rack teeth carried by said rack member, a spur gear wheel rotatablysecured upon one of said upstanding arms, the teeth of. which mesh withthe teeth of said rack member, a handle secured upon said g ar wheel,provided to rotate same, an arm integral With and depending fromtheinner end of said rack member, a bearing carried by the lower end ofsaid depending arm, a rod whose respective ends are attached to the armsof said. framework and which extends through said last mentionedbearing, a spring operating against said last mentioned bearing memberand tending to.

hold said socket members apart, and means for securing said device toport.

2. A device of the character described including a framework having twoopposing upstanding arms, by the free end of one of said arms andintegral therewith, the free end of the other a stationary supof saidarms carrying a bearing member, a

member and ex a. socket member carried r rack member having a lengthwiseslot therein and having slidable' engagement with said bearing member, apin extending first mentioned socket member, rack teeth carried by thelower side of said rack memher, a spur gear wheel rotatably secured uponone of said upstanding arms, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth ofsaid rack member, a handle fixed to said gear wheel and provided torotate the same, an arm integral with and depending from the inner endof said rack member, a bearing carried by the lower end of saiddepending arm, a rod whose respective ends are secured to the arms ofsaid framework and which extends through said last mentioned bearing, acoil spring surrounding said rod restmg against one of said upstandingarms and opposing said last mentioned bearing member and tending to holdsaid socket members apart and means for securing said device to astationary support.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification in the twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK B. MAY.

signed my presence of Witnesses:

J. M. ELMORE, Jr., L. K. TUTTLE.

